Welcome to the Hog Blog, a blog chronicling minor-league baseball in the Lehigh Valley. Tom Housenick, The Morning Call's IronPigs beat writer, has been at The Morning Call since 2008. In a previous lifetime, he was at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic talking with future Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, among many others.
He’ll now be spending his summers in search of who the Phillies are hoping to be the next Chase Utley and Cole Hamels plus any outfielder who catch and hit. What he really hopes to find are the next Mariano Rivera, Todd Helton and Jim Thome --- great human beings who happened to be great at this sport.
He spent the last five years covering Colonial League football, college basketball and high school track & field.

The IronPigs roster returned to 24 when Alex Concepcion was promoted from Reading.

But the 24-year-old right-hander doesn't exactly fill a need for Dave Huppert.

Huppert needs a starter to replace Drew Carpenter. Concepcion has started four games for Reading but overall threw just 62.2 innings in 26 appearances.

The IronPigs will likely have a bullpen day to handle Carpenter's next turn. Plus, if as expected Pedro Martinez makes a start for the IronPigs in the upcoming Columbus series -- most likely on Friday -- that could turn into another one.

So it's gonna' be interesting to see just how he and pitching coach Rod Nichols juggles the pitching staff -- and that's without any subtractions in possible deadline deals.

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The Hog Blog will be relatively quiet for the next week or so. I'm outta' here later tonight for a week's vacation, and my primary thought is on relaxation and recreation. I'll try to keep an eye on what's going on.

Currently Keith Groller is scheduled to fill in for me next week against Columbus, which means he'll have a front row seat for the Pedro Circus. I'm sure he'll have some comments over on his blog, Grollers' Corner.

The IronPigs roster returned to 24 when Alex Concepcion was promoted from Reading.

But the 24-year-old right-hander doesn't exactly fill a need for Dave Huppert.

Huppert needs a starter to replace Drew Carpenter. Concepcion has started four games for Reading but overall threw just 62.2 innings in 26 appearances.

The IronPigs will likely have a bullpen day to handle Carpenter's next turn. Plus, if as expected Pedro Martinez makes a start for the IronPigs in the upcoming Columbus series -- most likely on Friday -- that could turn into another one.

So it's gonna' be interesting to see just how he and pitching coach Rod Nichols juggles the pitching staff -- and that's without any subtractions in possible deadline deals.

---

The Hog Blog will be relatively quiet for the next week or so. I'm outta' here later tonight for a week's vacation, and my primary thought is on relaxation and recreation. I'll try to keep an eye on what's going on.

Currently Keith Groller is scheduled to fill in for me next week against Columbus, which means he'll have a front row seat for the Pedro Circus. I'm sure he'll have some comments over on his blog, Grollers' Corner.

If the IronPigs are going to make any sort of playoff push they're going to have to do it without their most consistent starter, at least for the next two weeks.

The Phillies recalled Drew Carpenter as well as reliever Tyler Walker to fill in for Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero, both of whom were put on the disabled list Thursday.

Walker had just returned to the IronPigs. Carpenter, the winning pitcher in the Triple-A All-Star game, will likely also work out of the bullpen.

Patrick Overholt has been promoted from Reading to bolster the IronPigs pitching staff. The other vacancy wasn't immediately filled, which could be a sign that shortstop Jason Donald, out since early June after undergoing knee surgury, may be ready to return..

If the IronPigs are going to make any sort of playoff push they're going to have to do it without their most consistent starter, at least for the next two weeks.

The Phillies recalled Drew Carpenter as well as reliever Tyler Walker to fill in for Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero, both of whom were put on the disabled list Thursday.

Walker had just returned to the IronPigs. Carpenter, the winning pitcher in the Triple-A All-Star game, will likely also work out of the bullpen.

Patrick Overholt has been promoted from Reading to bolster the IronPigs pitching staff. The other vacancy wasn't immediately filled, which could be a sign that shortstop Jason Donald, out since early June after undergoing knee surgury, may be ready to return..

According to those on the scene Pedro Martinez looked good in a simulated game earlier this week in Clearwater.

If all goes according to plan, Martinez is expected to make his first rehab start with the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday.

With that schedule his next turn would be next Friday, July 31, and the Phillies have hinted they want him to throw against higher competition.

Reading is at Erie that night.

The IronPigs are home to finish a season with Columbus.

Any little setback -- the sniffles, a hangnail, an ingrown toenail, whatever -- could throw that schedule out of whack. But if things go well, the Pedro Circus could settle at Coca-Cola Park next Friday.

According to those on the scene Pedro Martinez looked good in a simulated game earlier this week in Clearwater.

If all goes according to plan, Martinez is expected to make his first rehab start with the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday.

With that schedule his next turn would be next Friday, July 31, and the Phillies have hinted they want him to throw against higher competition.

Reading is at Erie that night.

The IronPigs are home to finish a season with Columbus.

Any little setback -- the sniffles, a hangnail, an ingrown toenail, whatever -- could throw that schedule out of whack. But if things go well, the Pedro Circus could settle at Coca-Cola Park next Friday.

After clearing waivers Tyler Walker has accepted an assignment back to the IronPigs and has joined the team in Charlotte.

To make room for the veteran reliever Sergio Escalona was demoted to Reading.

Expect another move in the next day or two when Jason Donald is ready to come back from the disabled list. If Donald had no setbacks this past weekend or over the past few days he was expected to rejoin the IronPigs on this road trip.

After clearing waivers Tyler Walker has accepted an assignment back to the IronPigs and has joined the team in Charlotte.

To make room for the veteran reliever Sergio Escalona was demoted to Reading.

Expect another move in the next day or two when Jason Donald is ready to come back from the disabled list. If Donald had no setbacks this past weekend or over the past few days he was expected to rejoin the IronPigs on this road trip.

No, Michael Taylor didn't walk on water this weekend, although some might have expected it given the hype the 23-year-old brought with him to Coca-Cola Park.

But what he did show was glimpses of the talent and ability that has him mentioned in every trade rumor involving the Phillies from here to Toronto.

Taylor was 2-for-13 in his first four games at Triple-A, including a home run onto the right field concourse -- something not done by too many right-handed hitters in this park.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder (that what he told me Saturday his weight was currently at) also showed his athleticism by scoring easily on from first on a double.

"I'd have to say C+, for total performance," Taylor answered when asked to evaulate his first weekend here. "I think there's a lot of adjustments I have to make as far as what I want to do, and I think I'll be able to make those adjustments. That's part of baseball. But I'm just starting to get settled in to the clubhouse and get used to the routines here. Obviously it'\ll be easier to evaluate what I'm doing after the next 50, 60, 100 [at-bats]. That's when I'll know where I'm at."

Taylor was 0-for-7 with two walks and four strikeouts in his first nine plate appearances before bouncing a single up the middle in the third inning of Saturday's second game. He homered two innings later.

"It felt like' a game-winning homer in the World Series," Taylor said of the single, a solid bouncer up the middle. "It shouldn't be that way, and you're not really panicing, but no matter where you go you still aways have that idea that you have to prove yourself. You internalize it as best you can, but when you start to get a couple things down, a couple knocks here, with the home run coming next, you just become more comfortable."

Taylor was 0-for-3 Sunday with a walk and a strikeout. "They were pitching me the way they were toward the end at Double-A," Taylor said of the weekend.

He'll find out a lot more about Triple-A pitching on the upcoming road trip, especially the second half of the eight-game Southern swing. Despite losing Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen and Charlie Morton, Gwinnett is still third in the IL in team ERA with a 3.65 mark and the Braves staff leads the league with 700 strikeouts.

No, Michael Taylor didn't walk on water this weekend, although some might have expected it given the hype the 23-year-old brought with him to Coca-Cola Park.

But what he did show was glimpses of the talent and ability that has him mentioned in every trade rumor involving the Phillies from here to Toronto.

Taylor was 2-for-13 in his first four games at Triple-A, including a home run onto the right field concourse -- something not done by too many right-handed hitters in this park.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder (that what he told me Saturday his weight was currently at) also showed his athleticism by scoring easily on from first on a double.

"I'd have to say C+, for total performance," Taylor answered when asked to evaulate his first weekend here. "I think there's a lot of adjustments I have to make as far as what I want to do, and I think I'll be able to make those adjustments. That's part of baseball. But I'm just starting to get settled in to the clubhouse and get used to the routines here. Obviously it'\ll be easier to evaluate what I'm doing after the next 50, 60, 100 [at-bats]. That's when I'll know where I'm at."

Taylor was 0-for-7 with two walks and four strikeouts in his first nine plate appearances before bouncing a single up the middle in the third inning of Saturday's second game. He homered two innings later.

"It felt like' a game-winning homer in the World Series," Taylor said of the single, a solid bouncer up the middle. "It shouldn't be that way, and you're not really panicing, but no matter where you go you still aways have that idea that you have to prove yourself. You internalize it as best you can, but when you start to get a couple things down, a couple knocks here, with the home run coming next, you just become more comfortable."

Taylor was 0-for-3 Sunday with a walk and a strikeout. "They were pitching me the way they were toward the end at Double-A," Taylor said of the weekend.

He'll find out a lot more about Triple-A pitching on the upcoming road trip, especially the second half of the eight-game Southern swing. Despite losing Tommy Hanson, Kris Medlen and Charlie Morton, Gwinnett is still third in the IL in team ERA with a 3.65 mark and the Braves staff leads the league with 700 strikeouts.

Haven't had the chance to talk to him about it yet, but Mike Cervenak is going to have to adjust to a new spot in the ballting order.

He's hit in the 3-spot almost excusively over the last two seasons, but since the arrival of Michael Taylor, Cervenak has been hitting second.

Manager Dave Huppert said the switch shouldn't change this approach at the plate, and it likely won't, since Huppert doesn't use much of a runnering game when the leadoff hitter gets on.

Still, it could affect the types of pitches Cervenak sees, or his own plan at the plate.

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If you watched Saturday's double-header you saw several questional scoring plays. There were at least three questionable scoring calls, all of which gave hits to IronPigs at the expect of Rochester's pitchers.

After the last Red Wings pitching coach Bobby Cuellar stood on the top step of the dugout guestering toward the press box.

One of the plays were later changed to an error, saving second-game starter Jason Jones an earned run. But the most egrenious play was a routine grounder in the fourth inning of the opener by Migel Cairo, who got credit for a single when the ball went under the glove of shortstop Trevor Plouffe.

That two-out play opened the door for a six-run IronPigs inning, and since no error was charged on the play, all six runs were earned charged to Philip Humber.

That one call cost Humber .70 on his ERA -- had the play been ruled an error, his ERA would've been 5.58. Now, it's 6.28.

"Those are the types of calls that get a guy released," a still agitated Cuellar said Sunday.

Haven't had the chance to talk to him about it yet, but Mike Cervenak is going to have to adjust to a new spot in the ballting order.

He's hit in the 3-spot almost excusively over the last two seasons, but since the arrival of Michael Taylor, Cervenak has been hitting second.

Manager Dave Huppert said the switch shouldn't change this approach at the plate, and it likely won't, since Huppert doesn't use much of a runnering game when the leadoff hitter gets on.

Still, it could affect the types of pitches Cervenak sees, or his own plan at the plate.

---

If you watched Saturday's double-header you saw several questional scoring plays. There were at least three questionable scoring calls, all of which gave hits to IronPigs at the expect of Rochester's pitchers.

After the last Red Wings pitching coach Bobby Cuellar stood on the top step of the dugout guestering toward the press box.

One of the plays were later changed to an error, saving second-game starter Jason Jones an earned run. But the most egrenious play was a routine grounder in the fourth inning of the opener by Migel Cairo, who got credit for a single when the ball went under the glove of shortstop Trevor Plouffe.

That two-out play opened the door for a six-run IronPigs inning, and since no error was charged on the play, all six runs were earned charged to Philip Humber.

That one call cost Humber .70 on his ERA -- had the play been ruled an error, his ERA would've been 5.58. Now, it's 6.28.

"Those are the types of calls that get a guy released," a still agitated Cuellar said Sunday.

The tarp is still on the field and rain is falling, but fans are starting to filter into Coca-Cola Park including a 50 or so fanatics who have already staked out their claim on the outfield berm.

Don't expect a 7:05 start, however. It's 6:45 and the skies have really opened up, although the hard-cores on the berm refuse to yeild their ground.

No roster surprises tonight like the Michael Taylor promotion yesterday, but there was a move involving the IronPigs roster. Scott Mathieson, who has missed most of the last two seasons after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries, has been assigned to Clearwater after completing his rehab in Florida. Thye hard-throwing right-hander made eight starts with the Phillies in 2006 after jumping from Reading, where he was 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA.

If Mathieson eventually makes it back all the way, one club exec says he could be considered this year's first-round draft pick.

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The auction of the IronPigs tuxedo jersey tops from Friday night's Ballpark Wedding raised about $7,300 for charity. The four top earners, in no particular order, were Greg Gross, Michael Taylor, Andy Tracy, and Lou Marson.

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There might be an arrival in a few days. The Phillies designated Tyler Walker for assignment today when they activated Clay Condrey, which means the ex-IronPigs reliever will need to clear waivers and then accept a minor league assignment to return to Coca-Cola Park.

Walker was 2-1 with three saves and a 1.40 ERA in 15 games for the IronPigs after signing with the Phillies following his release by Seattle. With the Phillies the 33-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in nine games (11 innings), allowing runs in only one outing.

The tarp is still on the field and rain is falling, but fans are starting to filter into Coca-Cola Park including a 50 or so fanatics who have already staked out their claim on the outfield berm.

Don't expect a 7:05 start, however. It's 6:45 and the skies have really opened up, although the hard-cores on the berm refuse to yeild their ground.

No roster surprises tonight like the Michael Taylor promotion yesterday, but there was a move involving the IronPigs roster. Scott Mathieson, who has missed most of the last two seasons after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries, has been assigned to Clearwater after completing his rehab in Florida. Thye hard-throwing right-hander made eight starts with the Phillies in 2006 after jumping from Reading, where he was 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA.

If Mathieson eventually makes it back all the way, one club exec says he could be considered this year's first-round draft pick.

---

The auction of the IronPigs tuxedo jersey tops from Friday night's Ballpark Wedding raised about $7,300 for charity. The four top earners, in no particular order, were Greg Gross, Michael Taylor, Andy Tracy, and Lou Marson.

---

There might be an arrival in a few days. The Phillies designated Tyler Walker for assignment today when they activated Clay Condrey, which means the ex-IronPigs reliever will need to clear waivers and then accept a minor league assignment to return to Coca-Cola Park.

Walker was 2-1 with three saves and a 1.40 ERA in 15 games for the IronPigs after signing with the Phillies following his release by Seattle. With the Phillies the 33-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in nine games (11 innings), allowing runs in only one outing.

When Kelly Johnson and Matthew Stoudt break out their wedding video in future years it should include a segment from the world-wide leader in sports entertainment.

TV-2 sent footage of the Nazareth area couple's ballpark wedding Thursday at Coca-Cola Park to ESPN, which featured the package in its Top 10 plays.

The footage showed the two exchanging their vows, Stoudt throwing the game's first pitch to Johnson (crouching behind the plate in her wedding dress), and Miguel Cairo getting ready to hit in the tuxedo-style uniform tops.

It was equally fitting that Kyle Kendrick was on the mound for the IronPigs. The 24-year-old right-hander used the all-star break to pop the question to 29-year-old girlfriend Stephenie LaGrossa, a former contestant on "Survivor," in Atlantic City. She said yes, and a November, 2010, wedding is planned.

"It was kind of weird just getting engaged and then having to wear those things the first time back," Kendrick said of the uniforms, which drew mixed reviews afterward -- but an unequivocable no from IronPigs manager Dave Huppert.

Told that sponsors took care of all the wedding expenses, Kendrick just smiled when asked if he'd put his name in the running for next year's wedding giveaway.

When Kelly Johnson and Matthew Stoudt break out their wedding video in future years it should include a segment from the world-wide leader in sports entertainment.

TV-2 sent footage of the Nazareth area couple's ballpark wedding Thursday at Coca-Cola Park to ESPN, which featured the package in its Top 10 plays.

The footage showed the two exchanging their vows, Stoudt throwing the game's first pitch to Johnson (crouching behind the plate in her wedding dress), and Miguel Cairo getting ready to hit in the tuxedo-style uniform tops.

It was equally fitting that Kyle Kendrick was on the mound for the IronPigs. The 24-year-old right-hander used the all-star break to pop the question to 29-year-old girlfriend Stephenie LaGrossa, a former contestant on "Survivor," in Atlantic City. She said yes, and a November, 2010, wedding is planned.

"It was kind of weird just getting engaged and then having to wear those things the first time back," Kendrick said of the uniforms, which drew mixed reviews afterward -- but an unequivocable no from IronPigs manager Dave Huppert.

Told that sponsors took care of all the wedding expenses, Kendrick just smiled when asked if he'd put his name in the running for next year's wedding giveaway.